Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Life Saving pair awarded to Thomas Carne for the rescue of nine colleague miners from the River Tamar in March 1849

Royal Humane Society, large silver medal (successful) (Thomas Carne, Vit. Ob. Serv. D.D. Soc. Reg. Hvm. 19 Mar. 1849) pierced with silver loop suspension; Plym Tamar Lynher and Tavy Humane Society, silver (To Thos. Carne, who on the 19th of March last, in the most gallant manner, saved nine persons from drowning in the River Lynher.) pierced with silver loop suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, good fine and rare (2) £800-£1,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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R.H.S. Case No. 14,728: ‘On the 19th of March 1849, Thomas Carne, a labouring miner, was crossing the river Tamar, at Calstock, Cornwall, in a boat kept by the Wheal Maria Mining Company, for the purpose of conveying to and fro the labourers who work in their mine, when, by some alarm raised among the men (thirteen in number) in consequence of the boat springing a leak, the whole were upset, the depth of water being eighteen feet. Thomas Carne and another man at first swam ashore, but, seeing the danger of the others who could not swim, Thomas Carne immediately returned, and brought out two of his companions. By the time he had effected this, and disengaged himself from his heavy coat, the other seven were under the surface of the water, locked together by arms and legs, and sinking fast. Carne, however, instantly swam to the place, and by diving and extraordinary exertions succeeded in landing them. By this time there were no traces of the two remaining unfortunate men, who were perfectly dead before they were got out by drags. However, by the noble heroism and determination of Thomas Carne to save his companions, nine out of thirteen were restored to their wives and families.’

In addition to the silver medal, £5 was awarded to Thomas Carne by the General Court.

Thomas Carne was baptised at St Breage’s Church Parish of Breage, Cornwall on 26 December 1823. Whilst residing at Stoke Climsland and employed as a labouring miner by the Wheal Maria Mining Company he rescued 9 men from the river Tamar on 19 March 1849. For his gallantry he was awarded the Royal Humane Society silver medal and £5 at the Committee Meeting held on 16 May 1849, as well as the Plym Tamar Lynher and Tavy Humane Society silver medal at their Committee Meeting held on 12 July 1849. Recorded in the Census for 1851, 1861 and 1871 as a Copper Miner residing at Treovis, Stoke Climsland, he is recorded again in the 1891 Census aged 68 as a Gold Miner/invalided with bronchitis residing at Treovis, Stoke Climsland. He died at Treovis Town, Stokeclimsland on 26 November 1893, aged 72, a Gold Miner.

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